Southeast national parks
9 Southeast national parks are spread across 8 states, from Hot Springs National Park in the west to Shenandoah National Park in the east.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the only Southeast national park with a park-wide reservation on Recreation.gov, so it is the one to book before you drive; no other park in the Southeast sells one there.
Driving between these parks
Only Biscayne and Everglades are close enough to pair, and the other 6 Southeast parks each sit more than 4 hours from the nearest one.
| From | To | Distance | Estimated drive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biscayne National Park | Everglades National Park | 57.7 mi (92.9 km) | 1 hr 49 min |
Drive times come from straight-line distance and a road-circuity factor, not from a routing service, so use them to sort options rather than to plan an arrival time.
Parks no road reaches
Dry Tortugas National Park has no road link to the rest of the Southeast, so it cannot join a driving route. Reached by ferry or seaplane from Key West, about 70 miles offshore.
What to book before you go
Recreation.gov lists 3 permits or lotteries, 6 guided tours, 1 road or area reservation, and 1 park-wide entry booking for Southeast national parks, and each park's own page carries its full list.
Recreation.gov lists 51 campgrounds at 8 Southeast parks, all of them bookable in advance.
When to go
All 9 Southeast national parks share one window: March through May, then September through November.
Biting insects and afternoon storms dominate summer. Repellent and a rain shell matter more than warm layers.
All 9 Southeast national parks
| Park | Where | Best window | Book ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biscayne National Park | FL | March through May, then September through November | Campsites only |
| Congaree National Park | SC | March through May, then September through November | Guided tour ticket |
| Dry Tortugas National Park | FL | March through May, then September through November | Campsites only |
| Everglades National Park | FL | March through May, then September through November | Permit or reservation |
| Great Smoky Mountains National Park | TN / NC | March through May, then September through November | Parking tag |
| Hot Springs National Park | AR | March through May, then September through November | Campsites only |
| Mammoth Cave National Park | KY | March through May, then September through November | Guided tour ticket |
| New River Gorge National Park | WV | March through May, then September through November | Guided tour ticket |
| Shenandoah National Park | VA | March through May, then September through November | Permit or reservation |
Go state by state
Each state page lists that state's parks and the towns closest to them, which is the quicker route when you already know where you are starting from.
Other U.S. regions
Common questions
Do any Southeast national parks need a reservation just to get in?
Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Parking Tag) is the only Southeast national park selling a park-wide reservation on Recreation.gov. Entry rules are set park by park and change between years, so check the park's own site for your dates.
Which two Southeast national parks are closest together?
Biscayne National Park and Everglades National Park are the closest pair in the Southeast, roughly 1 hr 49 min apart by road.
When is the best time to visit the Southeast?
Every national park in the Southeast is best March through May, then September through November, with shoulder weeks in February and December.
How many campgrounds do Southeast national parks have?
Southeast national parks have 51 campgrounds on Recreation.gov, all of them reservable in advance.
Which states this covers
The Southeast on this site means Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
The Census Bureau South region without Texas and Oklahoma, which group with the Southwest deserts here.